The fourth-ranked McLennan women's basketball squad came up short in its opening game at the Wrangler Classic in Odessa, falling to No. 6 New Mexico 68-65.
The first part game was a series of runs. McLennan got off to a slow start, allowing New Mexico to open on a 7-0 run to take the early lead. A Saneea Bevley 3-pointer put McLennan on the board with 7:20 to go in the first half. That would be the squad's only field goal in the first six minutes of play but they stayed in the game with good free-throw shooting. McLennan pulled within two at 9-7 before New Mexico pulled away again. The Thunderbirds led by eight, 17-9, with 4:08 to go in the first quarter. McLennan found its rhythm, ending the period on a 12-0 run to lead 21-17 going into the second.
The McLennan run continued into the next period as the squad added seven more points, including five from Bevley, to build an 11-point lead at 28-17 forcing New Mexico to call a timeout. The Thunderbirds began to slowly chip away, pulling within two with just over one minute remaining before the half, 34-29. Bevley added a pair of free throws in the final seconds to make it a seven-point McLennan lead at the break, 36-29.
New Mexico had the momentum to begin the third quarter, opening on an 8-2 run to cut the McLennan lead to one, 38-37. McLennan continued to lead by one at 40-39 midway through the quarter and extended the lead to eight with a 7-0 run highlighted by a pair of buckets by Aysia Ward. The Thunderbirds rallied again, tying the game at 47 with 30 seconds to go in third. Bevley ended the third quarter and began the fourth with back-to-back 3-pointers to put McLennan up by six, 53-47. Once again, New Mexico rallied to tie the game at 53. The two teams traded baskets and the game was tied at 59 with 4:35 to play. New Mexico took the lead on a Wisdom Anthony 3-pointer just 20 seconds later and held off McLennan down the stretch.
Saneea Bevley led the way for McLennan with 18 points. Aysia Ward and Aniya Williams added 12 and 10, respectively.
McLennan: Aysia Ward 6 0-0 12; Saneea Bevley 6 2-4 18; Alaina Payne 0 0-0 0; Mersadez Nephew 0 8-9 8; Jalayah Ingram 2 2-4 7; Peyton Hearvey 0 1-2 1; Niyah Johnson 2 3-6 7; Aniya Williams 5 0-0 10; Totals: 21 16-25 63.
New Mexico: aDanielle Smith 0 0-0 0; Filipa Calisto 5 0-0 10; Cacia Antonio 7 1-2 16; Wisdom Anthony 8 0-0 17; Diana Granja 0 0-0 0; Adania Sanchez 1 0-0 2; Nuria Estradé 1 0-0 3; Amyah Sutton 2 0-0 5; Pania Davis 7 1-3 15; Aaliyah Holmes 0 0-0 0; Totals: 31 2-5 68.
First Quarter score: McLennan 21, New Mexico 17; Halftime score: McLennan 36, New Mexico 29; Third Quarter score: McLennan 50, New Mexico 47; 3-pointers: McLennan 5 (Bevley 4, Ingram 1), New Mexico 4 (Estradé 1, Anthony 1, Antonio 1, Sutton 1); Total fouls: McLennan 13, New Mexico 16; Fouled out: Antonio (New Mexico); Records: McLennan 7-2, New Mexico 8-3.
